Police investigate capsicum spray death

Bendigo police were called to the 48-year-old man's home in Energetic Street, Long Gully, a suburb of Bendigo, at about 9.40pm (AEDT) on Friday following a report of a domestic dispute, a Victoria Police spokeswoman said.
The man was sprayed with OC foam when he confronted police but was administered care by police and left in the company of a neighbour, who later left the house. The same neighbour found the man dead in his bed when she returned about 9am the following day.
Detective Sergeant Ross Gray of Castlemaine criminal investigation unit is preparing a report for the coroner. Sgt Gray said the man was diabetic and had heart problems. An initial autopsy showed the man died of a heart attack and there was no direct link to the capsicum spray, Sgt Gray said.

Four police attacked in Alice Springs

An Aboriginal community police officer was grabbed around the throat as he tried to break-up a disturbance outside the 24 hour store in Gap Road yesterday morning.
His female partner was bitten on the forearm as she came to his aid.

Earlier, an officer was punched in the cheek as he tried to calm a crowd of 150 revellers attending a 18th birthday party, who piled onto Stuart Terrace from the Promised Land.
A second officer was jostled and had his cap stolen.

'Police assaulted me'

In a statement of complaint lodged the day after the February 8 incident, Ms Whiley said she was walking Jacob home in a stroller along Willawong Rd, Caringbah, when four police officers blocked her path. She asked bystanders, "What's happening?'' and was told there was "some kind of raid'' being carried out at a nearby Housing Commission block of units.
"I said, 'Oh, OK - I have to get past,''' Ms Whiley said in her statement. "I walked right up to where the four officers were standing in the walkway with my pram and said, 'Excuse me'. "I was going to go on to the road and around them but I couldn't because there was a bicycle approaching me and four or five cars on the road.

Cheney protesters dress as police

The two Sydney women had been dressed as Operational Support Group police – complete with dark blue overalls and peaked caps – when they were arrested about 9.30am.
The pair were spotted in Essex St directing traffic towards a line of police formed to contain about 200 protesting US Vice-President Dick Cheney's visit. Police sources said it was the first time they had seen protesters use the dangerous tactic in Sydney – although it has been used before in Victoria.The potentially deadly tactic was aimed at forcing the police line to disperse, police sources said.

Mining boom 'lure' for country police

Police Minister Paul Holloway said there was anecdotal evidence that West Australian officers were quitting to take up highly-paid jobs created by the mining boom. He said South Australia already was finding it difficult to recruit officers to regional areas. The Opposition yesterday claimed more than two-thirds of police positions at Ceduna, in the state's Far West, were unfilled.

Man faces Qld court over police bashing

A man accused of bashing a police officer with a hammer has been granted bail in Brisbane.
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Constable Fuller initially pulled Battino over for an alleged traffic offence outside Brookside Shopping Centre around midday but allowed him to go, the court was told. However, the offender allegedly drove off erratically and shouted abuse at police who followed him to a block of units. When confronted, Battino allegedly hit Constable Fuller in the head several times with a hammer before his female colleague managed to handcuff him.
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Battino's barrister Howard Posner told the court his client suffered mental health problems including mild paranoia and was on medication.

Police officer killed on duty honoured

Hundreds of mourners, including many serving police officers, attended the full ceremonial funeral for the late Constable Damien Murphy today, who was killed while on duty at Craigie last week.

Police defend shooting axe-wielding man

He was shot by police several times in the upper body and died near his house in Frank Street, Sunshine West.
Victoria Police assistant commissioner Sandra Nicholson said the the officers involved had no alternative but to shoot the man.

Stun-gun pointed at accused man

Earlier, Senior-Sgt Bert Cohen said a chase began along the Kwinana and Graham Farmer freeways about 7pm on Friday after a driver tried to ram a police car at a service station in Thomas Rd, Bertram. After leading police for more than 20km the driver rammed a second police car and another vehicle just south of Canning Bridge. Sen-Sgt Cohen said the driver pulled into the emergency lane and reversed into the police car. One officer suffered concussion when his head hit the windscreen.

The driver then did a U-turn and drove south against the traffic in the northbound lanes of Kwinana Freeway. Police pursued the utility on to the Graham Farmer Freeway, through the tunnel and on to Orrong Rd, where it did a U-turn and returned to the Graham Farmer Freeway. A "stinger'' placed on Graham Farmer Freeway, near the Windan Bridge, deflated the ute's right tyre. The driver then allegedly menaced police with two knives and was arrested after being subdued with stun-guns.

The concussed police officer was treated at Fremantle Hospital.

44-hour work week highlights police shortage: union

This week, the WA police hierarchy returned from an overseas recruiting drive which it says should result in up to 300 new officers.
It was also announced 200 Perth officers would work a 44-hour week, despite Commissioner Karl O'Callaghan's previous comments he thought it was detrimental to the health and well-being of officers.

P-plater's 108km/h in school zone - Readers' Comments

How about catching the real crooks who bash, rob & torment all sections of our community. Sick to death of the constant revenue raising!!
Posted by: Anne

I am all for speed checks in 40 zones, there are kids everywhere at these times not to mention high traffic volumes and congestion it actually makes sense, but speed cameras? No nothing but revenue raising.
Posted by: Mr Jones

Speed dection devices DO NOT raise revenue . It is the driver that raises the revenue to pay the fine .
Posted by: Stanley

I don't actually believe im reading comments about revenue raising. A young girl (on P-Plates - undisplayed) was caught doing 68k's over the limit, in a school zone, and all you can say is revenue raising? It's simple, if you don't want to contribute to revenue raising, don't speed!
Posted by: Troy

I think everybody is missing the point here. THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH REVENUE RAISING! It's about people being irresponsible around schools during the time where there are lots of children around.
Posted by: Tracy

Anne - funnily enough there are sections within the Police that deal with robbers, burglars and the like (and doing a good job of it with the tools/resources they have) - but have those offenders killed an average of one person per day in WA this year...... ?
Posted by: greg

Man running from police attacked by croc

Police said the man fled when approached by police at the Daly River community yesterday about a possible breach of bail conditions. After he disappeared down a river bank or into long grass, police gave up their search. But as they were about to leave, nearby residents told them the fugitive had been seen bleeding, with puncture marks on his head. He appeared to have been bitten by a crocodile, they told police. The man then assaulted officers as they tried to help him.